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Football: Northside Mercy Rules Little Rock Hall, 52-20

Football: Northside Mercy Rules Little Rock Hall, 52-20

Jamie Mitchell Times Record - Northside's Ryan Jones takes the handoff from Grizzly quarterback, Grant Hood, Friday, November 01, 2013, during first half play against Little Rock Hall at Mayo-Thompson Stadium.

Football: Northside Mercy Rules Little Rock Hall, 52-20

Jamie Mitchell Times Record - Northside's Shakari Jones carries the ball against Little Rock Hall, Friday, November 01, 2013, during first half play at Mayo-Thompson Stadium.

For a Northside team with fading postseason hopes and a few too many close calls this season, getting the Warriors on senior night was an almost perfect way to end the home season.

The Grizzlies looked every bit the dominant team they showed in mere glimpses for eight weeks. Northside scored on every drive in the first half, began playing junior varsity players in the second quarter and rolled over Hall, 52-20, at Mayo-Thompson Stadium.

Hall managed one first down to Northside’s three touchdowns in the game’s opening quarter. By the time the Warriors began to move the ball midway through the second, Northside was already well into its bench.

“Our kids came out, with all the disappointment they went through last week, they played well,” Northside coach Mike Falleur said.

Last week’s three-point loss to Little Rock Catholic left Northside’s playoff chances on life support. The Grizzlies are reliant on a win next week against Southside and some extra help from teams on the other side of the state.

Not much of that mattered Friday.

Prentice Victor scored from 18 yards on Northside’s first drive. Grant Hood added a touchdown from 12 on the next, then another from nine on the third series.

In 11 minutes, the Grizzlies had has many touchdowns as Hall had punts. By halftime, the Arkansas Activities Association mercy rule was in effect and running clock shortened the game.

Falleur’s counted on new bodies, like Shakari Jones and Joe Dye — two basketball players — to bolster a roster that has seen its share of attrition by more than just graduating seniors in recent years. Jones, who played only a half, had the biggest night for Northside. He caught five passes for 76 yards and scored on a dynamic 56-yard punt return near the end of the first half. It was another impressive game for Northside’s leading receiver and a junior playing his first football since ninth grade.

“The guy’s good,” Falleur said. “I don’t think you’d know it’s his first year playing if you didn’t know it’s his first year playing. I’m tickled to death he came out, Joe Dye came out. That’s what I hope these guys that play basketball figure out. You can do more than one. You can be good at more than one.”

Hall doesn’t have the same luck. The Warriors are a powerhouse in 6A basketball but saw their football losing streak extend to 25 games with Friday’s loss.

Jalen Harper finally put them on the scoreboard when he capped a 13-play, 74-yard drive late in the second quarter. Nearly all of it came against the Northside back-ups, save senior Daiquon Jackson, who played most of the game.

Northside responded with a 29-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to engage the mercy rule.

Victor saw most of the action in the backfield for the second consecutive game. Usual starter Justin Curry did not play Friday after turning an ankle in last week’s loss to Catholic. Falleur said Curry could have played had the team needed him, but the rest was well-deserved. Victor ran for 81 yards on 14 carries, including a touchdown.

Deontre Hardwick scored two plays into the second quarter when he picked up a Harper fumble and ran it 38 yards to the end zone. Hall’s next drive ended on downs and Hood connected with J.J. Jones for a 79-yard touchdown pass three plays later.

It was the type of performance that didn’t come often enough for a Northside team that saw three wins disappear in the final minute of three games this season. But they can still play spoiler next week at Southside.

“You see a little bit of it each week,” Falleur said. “Even in Catholic, we don’t win the game, but we’re getting a little bit better. Not making dumb penalties. Not turning the ball over. We’re getting there.”